This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Kelly Xiong. Find her on Instagram at @k.3lly. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
For millennials, jungle juice was usually the drink of choice at a college party or function. While jungle juice is still very prevalent in today’s college environment, a new way of drinking has entered the chat. You’ve probably heard of the word “borg” if you’re a Gen Z-er. If you’re a Millennial, maybe you’ve heard this word from a younger niece or nephew. The word “borg” is an acronym that stands for “blackout rage gallon.” This term was popularized fairly recently by college students within the last few years.
A borg is essentially some sort of homemade mixed drink in a milk gallon-shaped container — without the milk of course. There are many borg drink recipes online that show college students how to make their drinks tasty and sometimes hangover-free. Many borg drinks will include water flavor enhancers and electrolytes. These will make the mixed drinks tastier while also keeping you hydrated and potentially help alleviate any hangover symptoms the next day.
You also then have to name your borg. Students will write the names of their borgs with some sort of permanent marker on the gallon jug. Many times, the names are a play on words and include the word borg. I’ve seen some really clever names like “Mark Zuckerborg”, “faking a borgasm” and “Heisenborg”.
In my experience, borgs are typically brought out during outdoor parties during the springtime. If you go to college in a warmer area though, they are probably brought out year round. The borg has made drinking in college much safer. It lowers the chances of things being put into your drink without your knowledge. Your gallon stays with you at all times and you get to control what’s put in the drink and how much of it. It’s basically a customized drink that meets all your standards of what you want in a drink.
While jungle juice can be fun at times, there can be more risks. For one, you don’t know what was put into it. Carrying around an open red solo cup at a big, crowded party can very easily lead to someone slipping something into your drink. You also don’t know how much alcohol you’re actually consuming when drinking jungle juice. There could be very little alcohol put into it or way too much. The mixers can cover the taste of alcohol quite well. This is not to say you should never drink jungle juices. They are very popular for a reason, and most times, it’s free! Who doesn’t love free drinks. Jungle juice is typically the only option at many college house parties unless you want to bring your own drink — which is another nuance within itself.
Borg’s though, seems to be a more popular option in some cases nowadays. When you’re going to darties or darty hopping, it can be so much easier to carry a gallon with you than an open cup. The risk of spillage is minimalized and you have your entire supply with you. In the case that the party runs out of drinks provided, you have your own to keep the party going.
Borgs can also come with their own risks though. Just because potential external risks are minimalized, that does not mean all risks are minimalized. Knowing your alcohol consumption limit is very important when making your borg. Adding Liquid IV or other electrolytes is not a cure for hangovers. If you drink too much, you will still wake up miserable the next morning. Adding too much alcohol to your drink can also lead to alcohol poisoning. This will not be a fun time for you or your friends.
While spring is slowly approaching and the weather becomes nicer, the number of outdoor parties and darties will increase. Borgs are a safer way to indulge in drinking in a big college setting but it can still come with risks. Remember to make your drinks responsibly. There is no shame in not being able to drink as much as your peers.
Do you have a borg drink recipe that you really like? What is your go to? Let us know in the comments below.
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